Long Term Decline in Global Food Insecurity

The USDA projects that 884.4 million people across 83 developing nations will face food insecurity this year—about 19.5 percent of their total population.

The good news? That number is expected to drop by over 33 percent over the next decade, down to about 589 million people by 2036.

So, where does Iowa fit into this? As the nation’s second-largest ag exporter, shipping over $13 billion in agriculture commodities globally, our state plays a direct role in filling that supply gap abroad. But here’s the stark reminder: even as Iowa farmers feed millions around the world, about 1 in 8 Iowans right here at home still face food insecurity.

Global demand creates massive market opportunities for our ag economy, but it also reminds us why the work done in our local communities matters just as much.